Study of Toxic Effect of Nutmeg Extracts on some Biochemical Aspects and Histopathology of Kidney of Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nutmeg is a commonly used spice not only in flavoring of food items but also in traditional medicines as a sleep inducer, an anti-diarrheal, and an aphrodisiac agent. Reports have also claimed that it is used to create euphoric feelings and hallucinations. However nutmeg when consumed in the form of traditional medicine or in the form of cheap source of euphoric and hallucinating agent, its dose is not standardized and hence can be proved to be toxic. Therefore present investigation is aimed at studying the toxic effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of nutmeg on some biochemical aspects as well as histopathology of kidney of Swiss Albino mice.

Methods/Statistical analysis: Mice of both the sexes (n=40) were divided into four groups. Experimental  groups were  treated with 1000mg/kg body weight  of Aqueous Nutmeg Extract (ANE) and 200 mg /kg body weight of Methanolic  Nutmeg Extract (MNE)  for 28 days. Animals in control groups were feed with distilled water as aqueous control and olive oil as methanolic extract control. Blood samples from all the animals were withdrawn to estimate the levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid. The animals were sacrificed and kidneys were harvested, weighed and sectioned for histopathological investigations. The results obtained were compared using paired T-test. Findings: There was significant increase in the weight of kidney and levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid of both the treated group of animals. Histopathological sections of kidney of treated animals revealed less identified renal corpuscles, increase in the capsular space, massive lymphocytic infiltration, atrophied and sparse glomeruli with moderate vacuolation. Application: Consumption of nutmeg in high doses over longer time period induce toxic effect.